BoatUS alert: Boaters need to prepare for Dorian

Removing windage such as canvas, bimini tops and sails is one of the first steps to preparing your boat for a hurricane © Stacey Nedrow-Wigmore

Forecasters say Tropical Storm Dorian is spending more time over the warm waters of the Atlantic gathering strength and could strike the southeastern U.S. coast as a full-blown category 2 hurricane (96-110 mph wind speed) early next week.

Now with the National Weather Service advising residents of Florida's east coast to have a hurricane plan in place, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) has issued hurricane-preparation alerts to its members and is offering free hurricane planning help for all of the region's boat owners at BoatUS.com/Hurricanes. This no-cost assistance includes:

1. The new BoatUS Magazine Hurricane Preparation Guide with information on what to expect, where to keep a boat, how to find and fix potential breaking points, develop a hurricane plan, and more.
2. Boater's Guide to Preparing Boats and Marinas for Hurricanes for details on what you can do to protect your boat in a slip, dock, canal, on a lift, in a dry-storage rack, mooring, anchor or hurricane hole.
3. Hurricane Preparation Worksheet to easily manage your boat's hurricane prep efforts and to give a copy to your marina owner/manager.
4. A sampling of hurricane plans for marinas or yacht clubs that can be adapted for your facility.

BoatUS, the national advocacy, services and safety group for recreational boat owners, also says it's wise for boaters to take photos of their hurricane prep efforts, as they may help if a dispute later arises during salvage and recovery efforts.

BoatUS and its Marine Insurance Catastrophe (CAT) Team has been a leader in recreational boat hurricane preparedness with more than 30 years of post-hurricane boat salvage experience.

For more, go to BoatUS.com/Hurricanes.